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Wheatland Tube files duty evasion allegation

Chicago-based steel tube and pipe manufacturer Wheatland Tube, a division of Zekelman Industries, has filed an allegation of duty evasion with U.S. Customs and Border Protection in accordance with the Trade Facilitation and Trade Enforcement Act of 2015. Wheatland Tube claims duty evasion of imports of Chinese circular welded steel pipe. This pipe is being used in solar projects, many of which are receiving federal tax breaks.

"We uncovered evidence of the evasion of massive antidumping and countervailing duties on imports from China used in solar panel installations," said Barry Zekelman, chairman and CEO of Zekelman Industries. "We want to ensure that the laws designed to create a level playing field for our industry and our workers are not undermined by duty evasion practices."

Antidumping and countervailing duties were imposed against imports of circular welded steel pipe from China in 2008, after the U.S. Department of Commerce found evidence of dumping and subsidies and the U.S. International Trade Commission determined that these imports materially injured the domestic pipe and tube industry. Dumping margins of 69.20 to 85.55 percent and subsidy rates of 29.62 to 616.83 percent currently are in effect against imports of these products.